Envelope machine



Jan. 1, 1924 j 1,479,637 E. P: WATERHOUSE ET AL ENVELOPE MACHINE FiledJan. 20, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 1, 1924. 1,479,631

. E. P. WATERHOUSE ET AL ENVELOPE MACHINE Fi1edJan. 2o, 1925 ssheets-sheet s Patented Jan. 1, 1924.

EZB/A P. WATERHOUSE ANDCARL HENRY LEKBERG, OF WORCESTER,

MASSACHUSETTS.

ENVELOPE MACHINE.

Application filed January 20, 1923. Serial No. 613,846'.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, EZRA P. WATER- HOUSE andCARL HENRY LEKBERG, citizens of the United States, residing atWorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope Machines, ofwhich the following isa specilication.

Our present invention relates to a novel construction andorganization ofmeans for operating'the gum-distributing element or devices whereby gumor adhesive is spread upon the faces of the pickers, in an envelopemachine of the picker-plunger class; aprime object of this inventionbeing to provide a mechanism that will be satisfactory and eiiicient foraction; better adapted for. operation at high speed; and to obviate someobjections incident to mechanisms heretofore employed in this art.

Another object is to provide in the gumming mechanism of anenvelope-macliine,a flexible cord or cable connection for thereciprocation of the gum transfer-roll by alternately directed pullingaction; -thus affording a light-running, quiet, and slightly elasticmechanism.

Another object is to provide a gumming mechanism, in an envelope-machineof the class named, with a flexible cord, band or cable andcable-guiding means, arranged for reciprocatively'moving thegum-transferring element from theY gum-supply across the pickers, andviceversa, and oscillating drum or element for actuating said cablealternately in opposite directions, and means for imparting movement tosaid oscillating element synchronous with the action of theenvelope-machine mechanism.

A further object is to provide in combination with the reciprocatinglymoving gum-transferring roll, its guides, and operating cable: of meansfor attaching the cable to the roll-supporting carriers or slides in amanner to afford adjustability, security of connection, and elasticityof action.

These objects we attain by mechanism the nature and organization ofwhich is eX- plained in the following detailed description; referencebeing therein made to the accompanying drawings (three sheets) wherein-Fig.; 1vv representsfan"elevation view of such parts of an envelopemachine as will illustrate the nature of our invention,

Fig. 2 is a front view,

Fig. 3 a plan-view above the stripperplate, the picker-plunger being insection.

Fig. llis a detail side view on larger scale of the roll-carrier slideand section of thek cable attaching means.

Fig. 5a section of the cable attachingv picker-plunger, carrying'f thepickers and whereby the gum or adhesive vsubstance is placed upon theenvelope blanks; and E the blank-supporting elevator or stand; all ofwhich parts may be of well known or any suitable construction; as mayalso the mechanisms required for transferring and folding theenvelopeyblanks, which mechanis'ms are` not herein shown,` since theyform no essential part-'of our present invention; but-it will beapparent that, in-practice, our improvement is designed to beernployedin connection with a machine' of the character named; the operationwill, therefore, be sufficiently understood by persons skilled 'in theart.

The numeral 10 indicates the stripperplate arranged above the stand ofblank F,

and having openings therein through which the pickers descend to contactwith the blank in well known manner. 12 denotes the gum-box having thegum-delivering roll 13 rotatably mounted therein and provided with meansfor its operation,'and means for regulating the film of gum' deliveredthereby. 15 indicates the transfer-roll, its aXle journaled in orlsupported' by suitable carriers or slide members 16 mounted to move onguides or rodsl 1tdispose'd horizontally above the stripper-plate 10,parallel with each other; vsaid members 16 are arranged to travel alongthe guides 14e-for a distance sufficient to carry the roll 15 intocontact l with the gum delivery-roll 13; and back-to the positionindicated in full lines on Fig.

2, said transfer-roll passing across the faces of thepickers 2 when,B1,V .ted,for .charging said pickers with gum; also performing a dwellat or adjacent the position indicated, while the pickers descendthr'ough the stripper-plate for picking up a blank and are againelevated.

llhe employment of a reciprocally moving transfer-roll traveling fromcontact with the gum supply across the faces of the pickers for placinggum thereon being well-known in the art, it will be apparent that we donot claim such feature, per se, as of our invention.

ln accordance with our invention, for imparting reciprocatory back andforth movement to the transfer-roll 15, we employ a flexible beltlikeconnection consisting of a suitable cord or cable of wire an oscillatingelement or drum -6 by which said cable is operated, and means foractuating said drum synchronousy with the elevated dwell of thepicker-plunger and envelope-machine action. The cable 5 is best formedabout three sixteenths inch, more or less, in diameter, and may be madeof any suitable material; it is preferably composed of a group of smallflexible wires twisted together. This cable is arranged about a seriesof guide pulleys or sheaves that are rotatably supported in adjacentrelation to the path of the transfer-roll 15. Most of the sheaves aremounted in overhead horizontal relation upon studs that have theirsupport in brackets 9 attached to an upper frame number A1 of themachine; thus leaving unobstructed space beneath the cable and sheaves.The cable is arranged in such manner that two portions or reachesthereof, as 5a and 5b, will simultaneously travel in the same directionand said two portions are attached respectively to the front and rearcarriers 16 in which the axles of the transfer-roll are supported.

At Va convenient position. the cable 5 is connected with an oscillatingelement or means for effecting longitudinal pulling' action one way andthe other, said element preferably consists of a drum 6, upon theperiphery of which the cable is wound from opposite sides, and to whichthe cable is secured at a predetermined position by a suitable stay orclamp 8. The surface of the drum is preferably spirally grooved forguiding the coils of cable thereon. l

The drum 6 may be located at any convenient position lin relation to theroll-carrier means and the cable extended thereto, direct or about guidesheaves, as may be most convenient to accommodate the machine structurein any instance. As shown the drum 6 is mounted in connection with agear pinion 17, upon an axis stud 18 sup orted in a stationary bracket19 near the ower part of the frame. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) A reciprocatingbar or member 20 carries a rack 21 that engages with the pinion 17. Saidrack-bar is arranged to be actuated by a rotating cam 28 mounted on thethe drive-shaft C, or some conveniently disposed shaft in the machine,whereby the cam is revolved in unison with the stroke of the envelopeforming devices. The bar 20 is provided with a stud or roll 22 thatengages with the grooves of the cam 28, and said bar preferablycentrally fur-cated for guiding upon the cam-shaft; `its upper and lowerportions being supported to work in proper relation by guiding meansfixed on the frame or table in any approved manner. A pull spring 24 ispreferably connected with the rack-bar to normally keep the roll-stud yagainst the cam surface. rlhe cam 28 is made of suitable form anddimension for imparting through the rack and pinion, to the oscillatingelement or drum 6 the requisite degree of oscillative movementforpulling the cable alternately right and left and thereby moving theroll-carrier slides 16 and roll 15 back and forth along the guides 14,the operation being a pull action .in each direction.

As illustrated the cable 5 extends from the drum 6 up to a planeslightly above the plane of the guides 14, and over a guiding sheave 26,thence horizontally toward the right and around a sheave 27 and rearwardabout a sheave 28; thence towards the left in rear of the pickermechanism 2 and around a sheave 29; thence towards the right to a'sheave 30 below the sheave then forward and about a sheave 81 above thesheave 27 ;thence to the left across the front and to a sheave 82adjacent to the first mentioned sheave 26 and down to the drum 6 whichit meets at the side opposite that from which it starts. rlhe cable,which is preferably continuous` is secured to the'periphery of the drum,by the fastener 8, so that as the drum is oscillated the cable will bewound onto said drum at one side while it is equally unwound from theother side, and vice versa; hence the cable is alternately pulledlengthwise in one direction and the other in unison with the oscillativemovement, without material variation in the general tension of thecable. Guide sheaves 33 and 34 are provided where the cable deV vlatesfrom a direct line between the drum and upper mechanism. At one or morepositions in its length the cable 5 may be provided with a turnbuckle ormeans for taking up slack or adjusting its tension.

The two reaches of cable 5 respectively disposed at front and rearapproximately parallel with the guides 14, and arranged tosimultaneously move in the same direction, and indicated by numerals 5aand 5b, are attached to the respective slides or carrier members 16 ofthe transfer-roll 15, so that lll) CJI

said members together with the roll are moved with the movement of thecable; the two carriers or roll bearing members moving approximately inunison and to the same extent. The attaching means is best constructedas shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The roll-supporting slide 16 is mounted withtwo lugs 3 and 3X upon the guide 14, the lugs being some space apart.Between said lugs, also mounted on the guide, there is a coupling-blockhaving jaws projecting into line with the cable and provided with aclamping member or cap 36 secured by suitable means, as a screw, orscrews S. The inner yfaces of the jaws are best fitted with a recess onone part and protuberance on the other part opposite said recess. Thecable extends through said jaws and the cap is firmly clamped downcausing a slight bend or ofset 4 in the cable (see Fig. 4) whichprevents slipping of the cable therein.

Coiled wire springs 7 are preferably arranged, at one or both sides,between the coupling-block and lug on the roll-supporting member, toprevent shock and for easing the action at the reversal of the directionof motion of the reciprocatively moving parts. Said springs may not inall nstances be required and can in some instances be omitted if sopreferred.

This mode of attachment permits ready adjustment of the cable inrelation to the roll: gives security of connection, and affords a slightdegree of elasticity in action.

IVe claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1.The combination with gumming mechanism in an envelope machine, includinga reciprocally acting transfer-roll, and rollcarrier means; ofa'flexible cable-form carrier-operating element, means for supportingand guiding said element, and means for imparting back and forthmovement thereto, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device for the purpose described a reciprocally movingtransfer-roll, a flexible cable connected with and arranged for movingsaid transfer-roll, and means actuated in conjunction with theenvelopeproducing mechanism for alternately pulling said cable inopposite directions.

3. An envelope gumming mechanism in` cluding a reciprocatinggum-transferring element, a fiexible cable means connected forreciprocally moving said gum-transtering element from the gum-supplyacross the pickers, and vice versa, an oscillative element actuatingsaid cable means longitudinally in alternate directions, and means forimparting movement to said oscillative element synchronous with theaction of the envelope-machine mechanism.

4. In an envelope-machine, in combination with the plunger pickers, gumsupply means, gum transfer-roll, and guides for said transfer-roll; of aroll operating means comprising a flexible connection cable, a series ofguide sheaves about which said cable is arranged to present two reachesthat simultaneously move in the same general direction, means attachingsaid reaches of cable to the respective carrier members for the ends ofsaid transfer-roll, and means for effecting alternate longitudinal backand forth pulls on said cable.

5. In an envelope-machine of the class described, comprising agum-supply, vertically moving blank-gumming pickers and a laterallymoving gum-transfer-roll traveling from the gum-supply across the facesof the pickers; the combination with the transfer-roll carriers, of acable connected therewith for moving said roll, a series of guidingsheaves supporting and directing said cable, an oscillating drum towhich said cable is connected' for winding onto and from the peripheryat opposite sides, a pinion operatively connected with said drum, areciprocating member carrying a rack engaging said pinion, and arevolving cam working with the envelope-machine mechanism and adaptedfor actuating said rack-carrying member.

6. In combination with the reciprocating gum-transferring roll, parallelguides therefor, roll-supporting carriers slidable on said guides, aflexible cable controlling the carriers, and means forv operating saidcable; of means for the attachment of said cable to the carriercomprising a laterally projecting member united with the carrier andhaving a cable receiving space within which the cable is clamped.

7. In an envelope-machine, in combination with the reciprocating'picker-gumming roll, parallel guides therefor, rollsupporting carriersslidable on said guides, a pulling-cable connection and means foroperating the same; of means for uniting the cable and roll-supportingcarrier, comprising-a coupling-block mounted between lugs formed on thecarrier and slidable on the guide, an expanding spring arranged betweenthe coupling-block and lug, said coupling-block provided withcable-receiving jaws internally fitted with coacting offset grip-faces,and means for clamping said jaws rigidly upon the cable laid betweensaid grip-faces. :h

EZRA P. WATERI-IOUSE, CARL HENRY LEKBERG.

